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The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898

( ACT NO. V OF 1898 )

Chapter XX

OF THE TRIAL OF CASES BY MAGISTRATES

Frivolous Accusations in Cases tried by Magistrates.

False, frivolous or vexatious accusations
250.(1) If in any case instituted upon complaint or upon information given to a police-officer or to a Magistrate, one or more persons is or are accused before a Magistrate or any offence triable by a Magistrate, and the Magistrate by whom the case is heard discharges or acquits all or any of the accused, and is or opinion that the accusation against them or any of them was false and either frivolous or vexatious, the Magistrate may, by his order of discharge or acquittal, if the person upon whose complaint or information the accusation was made is present, call upon him forthwith to show cause why he should not pay compensation to such accused or to each or any of such accused when there are more than one, or, if such person is not present direct the issue of a summons to him to appear and show cause as aforesaid.
 
 
 
 
(2) The Magistrate shall record and consider any cause which such complainant or information may show and if he is satisfied that the accusation was false and either frivolous or vexatious may, for reasons to be recorded, direct that compensation to such amount not exceeding 1[one thousand Taka] or, if the Magistrate is a Magistrate of the third Class, not exceeding 2[five hundred Taka], as he may determine be paid by such complainant or informant to the accused or to each or any of them.
 
 
 
 
(2A) The Magistrate may, by the order directing payment of the compensation under sub-section (2), further order that, in default of payment, the person ordered to pay such compensation shall suffer simple imprisonment for a period not exceeding thirty days.
 
 
 
 
(2B) When any person is imprisoned under sub-section (2A), the provisions of sections 68 and 69 of the Penal Code shall, so far as may be, apply.
 
 
 
 
(2C) No person who has been directed to pay compensation under this section shall, by reason of such order, be exempted from any civil or criminal liability in respect of the complaint made or information given by him:
 
 
 
 
Provided that any amount paid to an accused person under this section shall be taken into account in awarding compensation to such person in any subsequent civil suit relating to the same matter.
 
 
 
 
(3) A complainant or informant who has been ordered under sub-section (2) by a Magistrate of the second or third class to pay compensation or has been so ordered by any other Magistrate to pay compensation exceeding 3[one hundred taka] may appeal from the order, in so far as the order relates to the payment of the compensation, as if such complainant or informant had been convicted on a trial held by such Magistrate.
 
 
 
 
(4) When an order for payment of compensation to an accused person is made in a case which is subject to appeal under sub-section (3), the compensation shall not be paid to him before the period allowed for the presentation of the appeal has elapsed, or, if any appeal is presented, before the appeal has been decided and, where such order is made in a case which is not so subject to appeal, the compensation shall not be paid before the expiration of one month from the date of the order.
 
 
 
 
4[(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the Magistrate may, in addition to the order directing payment of the compensation under sub-section (2), further order that the person ordered to pay such compensation shall also suffer imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or pay a fine not exceeding three thousand Taka.]

  • 1
    The words "one thousand taka" were substituted, for the words "one hundred taka" by section 2 and Schedule of the Law Reforms Ordinance, 1978 (Ordinance No. XLIX of 1978)
  • 2
    The words "five hundred taka" were substituted, for the words "fifty taka" by section 2 and Schedule of the Law Reforms Ordinance, 1978 (Ordinance No. XLIX of 1978)
  • 3
    The words "one hundred taka" were substituted, for the words "fifty taka" by section 2 and Schedule of the Law Reforms Ordinance, 1978 (Ordinance No. XLIX of 1978)
  • 4
    Sub-section (5) was added by section 20 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Second Amendment) Ordinance, (Ordinance No. XXIV of 1982)
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